Penn State Charges 13 in Cocaine Ring, Alleging Agostino Abbatiello Led 2 Fraternities
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Aug 21
Penn State Charges 13 in Cocaine Ring, Alleging Agostino Abbatiello Led 2 Fraternities
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Aug 21
Summary
13 current and former Penn State students were charged after prosecutors said Agostino Abbatiello, 24, ran a cocaine-trafficking network that spread through Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon.
A confidential informant’s tip about sales by Thomas Robinson at the Delta Upsilon house led detectives to controlled buys, a December 2024 raid and evidence that pointed police back to Abbatiello.
Prosecutors say the ring evolved from fraternity members selling to each other into a for-profit operation, with pledges allegedly forced to cut and bag cocaine as part of fraternity indoctrination.
Abbatiello, accused of sourcing larger quantities from New York after a Pennsylvania supply dried up, faces multiple felony drug and conspiracy counts after surrendering a day after missing arraignment.
Penn State called the allegations horrifying, Delta Upsilon is under interim suspension, and Sigma Chi said charged members and the chapter involved were also suspended pending court proceedings.